Bethany Pike

This article was first published in the Brooke News(Brooke Co WV) 21 OCT 1971.WELLSBURG-BETHANYTROLLEY CAR

Photo donated by Charlie Harris formerly of Wellsburg

The Wellsburg-Bethany Trolley, better know to Brooke County residents as the "Toonerville Trolley" was started in 1908 by WILBUR Cramblett who was interested in improving the Town of Bethany. SAMUEL GEORGE II, who wanted better transportation to get his employees to work and back home again: MILLARD BOYD, FRANK CHAPMAN an ROBERT SCOTT Mr. BOYD surveyed the line and Mr. Chapman drew up the corporation papers. The trolley stopped in Wellsburg at the Pennsylvania Railroad crossing at Eighth and Yankee Streets, and when it left Wellsburg at 4:30 p.m. it was usually filled, but after McKinleyville there were only a few passengers that went on to Bethany. Many unscheduled stops were made between Wellsburg and Bethany. At night a blast of its whistle would announce to the boys dating girls out along the pike that it was time for that goodnight kiss. It has also been said that the trolley stopped at every house along the track and if there was a double house it stopped twice. Quite often the motorman with assistance from the passengers would stop the trolley and chase livestock off the track. At one time it carried a "Smoking Car" for the convenience of the gentlemen passengers. In summer an open trolley was added to the regular car. The most famous trip made by the little trolley was in 1912 when the late HONORABLE CHAMP CLARK spoke at Bethany. At that time he was seeking the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Among those taking that famous ride were CHARLES D. KYLE, former sheriff of Brooke County; HELEN HAMMOND WILLIAMSON, Doctor T. WEIRICH, CHARLES H. BEALL, J.M. WALKER, J.S. LIGGETT, T.H. BUCHANAN, JOHN R. ELSON, A.F. WILKEN, FRANK A. CHAPMAN, C.E. GITHENS, W.P. CAMPBELL, GEORGE C CURTIS and JOHN L. LEWIS. Incidentally Mr. Clark was defeated by Woodrow Wilson at the Democratic Convention that summer. The "Toonerville Trolley" gave way to progress and the "horseless carriage" many years ago, but will never be forgotten by those fortunate enough to have ridden on it. Mr. W.H. Cramblet, Jr. of Bethany, WV has a collection of information about this trolley. This article was first published in the Brooke News (Brooke Co WV) 21 OCT 1971